Game



March 26, 1940. LE ROY D. 2,194,854

GAME

Filed June 11, 1938 I fnaenkr lef zz flawm'd Patented Mar. 26, 194i) UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE I I r 2,194,854 I f GAME of Maine Application June 11, 1938, Serial No. 213,225

30laims.

This invention relates to a board game apparatus, and its principal object is to provide a fascinating competitive game involving chance and Judgment and adapted to be played by two or more players, each of whom seeks to accomplish a specified objective and/or accumulate more credits than any of the other players.

Further objectswill be apparent from a consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a preferred form or arrangement of the playin b ard;

Fig. 2 is a view of a set of playing tokens;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a set of spot 16 checks;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a group of pay c p Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a group of tally pieces; and

Fig. 6 is a, perspective view of the dice.

In accordance with the present invention the playing board comprises a playing field having a central area or prize space, a plurality of circumferentially extending paths or tracks, and a group of radial paths or tracks extending from the central area across the circumferential tracks to the zone surrounding the playing field. The circumferential and radial tracks are demarked to define playing spaces, and one or more of the tracks are provided with spots which may be appropriately marked by numerals or letters. The zone surrounding the playing field is marked off to define one or more starting points, and each of the circumferential tracks is appropriately marked at one or more points to define a means of direct travel or communication between the circumferential tracks, each of such means preferably defining a one-way path of travel.

There are also provided playing pieces, one

for each player, to determine the position of the competing players during the course of play;

and dice or the like chance means, adapted to' be operated by the players, are provided to determine their respective movements along a prescribed or selected track or path of travel. In addition to the foregoing there are provided tally pieces or like means, each of which corresponds to a numbered or lettered spot on the playing field, each such tally piece, when drawn by -a player, not only serving to identify the player, but also specifying his primary objective; and there is also provided means for scoring points or accumulated credits, the number and/or value of which may vary according to the particular 5 accomplishment.

In general, each of the players starts from a selected starting point or from some designated location and moves along the tracks toward his primary objective which, as above noted, is the spot corresponding to the tally piece held by him. I} If desired, procedural rules may be adopted to impede, hasten or frustrate the plans of the player and, in addition to scoring points for the attainment of the primary objective, a lesser number of credits or points may be scored for the attain- 101 ment of secondary objectives, such, for example, as landing on the spot of an opponent or reaching the prize space. The player who first lands on his own spots ends, the game and is declared to be the winner. 1'

Referring to the drawing, the particular embodiment therein shown comprises a playing board I (Fig. 1) having a playing field 2 demarked so as to define a central area or prize space 4, a plurality of circumferentially extending tracks 5, 20 6 and 1, preferably of different colors, and a plurality of radially extending tracks 9, In, H and [2, preferably of the same color, each of the circumferential tracks being marked ofl by radial lines l4 and the radial tracks being marked off by 28 circumferential lines I! so asto provide spaces defining the units of movement.

The circumferentially extending tracks 5 and I are provided with playing spots l8 located in certain of the spaces, these spots defining the loca- 30 tions for spot checks ll (Fig. 3), each of which consists of a disk having a number thereon. The circumferentially extending tracks are also demarked at space locations to define a means of direct communication from one track to another, 35 such means being here shown as elevators l8, each having an arrow l9 which indicates a one-way travel from one track to another. The zone 20 surrounding the playing field 2 is demarked at spaced locations to provide a plurality of start- 40 ing points, here shown as four spaced elevators 2|, each having an arrow 22 indicating a direct line of travel from the starting point to a space in the outer track I.

playing tokens 25 (Fig. 2), one for each player, pay chips 26 (Fig. 4), a set of numbered tally pieces 21 (Fig. 5), and a pair of dice 28, 29 (Fig. 6). The number of spot checks I1 and tally pieces 21 corresponds to the number of spots I 50 on the tracks 5 and I and each tally piece bears a number corresponding to a number on one of the spot checks. The dice preferably are of different color, a red die 28 and a white die 29, so that a player may have the option of moving in one direction or another according to the color throw of the die selected.

Although the objectives above set' forth may be accomplished in accordance with any prescribed rules, the following procedure:

Preparatory to the commencement of play, the spot checks II are distributed at random and disposed face up on the spots it of the tracks 5 and Land the pay chips 20 are divided evenly among the players. The tally pieces are then shumed and each player is given one of the talley pieces, care being taken to conceal the number thereon from all other players. Each player then notes the number of his tally piece and also the location on the playing board of the spot check I! which corresponds with his tally number, keeping the location a secret from the opposing players. Each player then selects a playing token 25 which is to be used through the game.

To commence the play, each player "antes a chip to the central prize space 4, and the first player (selected in any prescribed manner) throws the dice. The number turned up on the white die permits the player to move his token to the right the number of spaces corresponding to the throw of the white die, and the red die permits a player to move his token to the left the number of spaces corresponding to the throw of the red die. Accordingly, before moving, the player, bearing in mind the location of his spot check and knowing the direction and number of spaces which he may move, selects one of the four starting points and moves his token to the right or left, depending upon which color die he has selected, it being understood that the players may choose any one of the four entrance elevais sugsestive oi a preferred vlsable to move in the direction of the players spot check for the purpose of capturing it and 7 thereby ending the particular game, thus collecting the rewards from the other players, the selection of the particular die governing the players move is a matter of judgment and involves other procedural considerations presently to be described.

There are three circumferential tracks and the only means of going from one track to another is by way of the elevators it, some of which take the token up and others take the token down, the arrows associated with each elevator indicating the direction of movement. A players token must land directly on an elevator by an exact count before that token can be moved up or down to enter the track. When a players token lands on an elevator by an exact throw of the die, it must immediately slide to the track indicated by the arrow on that elevator, and when a player's spot is located on an inner track, he,

must use these elevators in order to get his token on the proper track.

A player makes a capture by landing his token by an exact count on any space occupied by a numbered spot check or by landing his token by exact count on the prize space 4. Captured spot checks are removed from the board and held by the player taking them until the end of the game. If a player captures his own spot check this ends the game immediately and he collects a reward from all other players; but if a player captures an opponent's spot check, that opponent must immediately reveal his identity and pay immediately a prescribed reward (using the pay chips 28) to the player who captures his spot check.

Players whose spot checks have been captured do not retire from the game but continue play until the game is ended. Although such players have lost their chance of winning, they may try to capture the spot checks of other opponents still remaining on the board, thus collecting pay chips from such opponents and endeavoring to prevent any one of them from winning the game.

When a player lands his token on a space already occupied by the token of an opponent, that opponent is "bumped" and as a penalty he must pay one chip to the prize space in the center of the board and must also pay one chip to the owner of the token who bumped" him. Only three tokens may occupy one space at one time, the arrival of a fourth token' on a space already occupied by three other tokens automatically sending the three other tokens outside of the playing field again, thus clearing the space for the new arrival. The three tokens sent outside begin play again on their regular turns as at the start of the game by entering the outer track by any entrance elevator they may elect. The players whose tokens have been removed from the track are required to pay for being bumped in accordance with the rule above explained.

The prize chips are those that accumulate first by the original "ante of one chip from each player at the beginning of the game and secondly by chips placed there as penalties for being bumped. These chips may be captured by using the radial tracks 9, III, II and I2. When a players token comes to rest on a prize path or radial track space, that player must immediately try for the prize if there be any prize chips in the prize space 4; otherwise he must advance one additional space to the right, since tokens must not remain on the prize paths.

Players landing on a prize path space and electing to try for the prize are immediately given another throw of one die, and any such player must throw the exact number necessary to reach the prize space from the position of his token on the track, that is, a throw of a 1, 2 or 3, depending upon whether such player occupies the first, second or third space from the prize area 4.

If a player makes a correct throw, he takes all the prize chips, removes his token from the board and continues play on his regular turn by starting again at the entrance elevator he may elect. If a player does not make the correct throw, he must immediately remove his token from the prize path and begin play again on his next regular turn by starting at any entrance elevator he may elect. When any player captures the prize chips, all other players are required immediately to contribute or ante up two chips to the prize space. The turn then passes to the next player who resumes play, using both dice, from the present position of his token.

The play continues until a player captures his own spot check, at which time he makes known his identity, showing the number on his tally piece andcalling attention to 'the location of his playing token. The player ending the game is declared the winner and all players pay him a prescribed number of pay chips as a reward. The winner also collects all of the chips in the prize space 4.

In event of a draw game, another game should be played to determine the winner. If there are any pay chips remaining from the draw game.

they are left in the center of the board as a part of the prize for the next game.

I claim:

1. A game apparatus comprising a playing board adapted for use in conjunction with a plurality of playing pieces and chance means for operation by the players to determine the extent and direction of their respective movements on the playing board, and a set of individually identifiabie tally means to be acquired by the players for determining their respective objectives, said playing board having a playing field including a plurality of circumferentially extending tracks defining diflerent paths of travel for said playing pieces, said tracks being marked oft into spaces and certain of said spaces being provided with spots adapted to receive said individually identifiable tally means, said spots having markers correlated with said tally means so as to identify the different players and their respective objectives, and means defining communications between said tracks so that during the course of play an individual player may travel from one track to the other according to the particular location of his objective.

2. A game apparatus comprising a playing board adapted foruse in conjunction with a plurality of playing pieces and chance means for operation by the players to determine the extent and direction of their respective movements on the playing board, and a set of individually identifiable tally means to be acquired by the players for determining their respective objectives, said playing board comprising a central zone, a plurality of interconnected circumferentially extending tracks about said central zone and a plurality of radial tracks extending from said central zone across said circumferentially extending tracks to a zone surrounding the playing field, said circumferentially and radially extending tracks being marked off into playing spaces and certain of said playing spaces being provided with spots adapted to receive markers correlated with said tally means so as to identify the individual players and their'respective objectives.

3. A game apparatus comprising a playing board adapted for use in conjunction with a plurality of playing pieces and chance means for operation by the players to determine the extent and direction of their respective movements on the playing board, and a set of individually identifiable tally pieces to be acquired by the players for determining their respective objectives, said playing board comprising a central zone constituting a prize space, a plurality of circumferentially extending tracks of diiferent colors, means delineating a one-way communication between adjacent circumferential tracks, said circumferential tracks being marked oil into playing spaces and certain of said playing spaces having spots thereon adapted to receive said tally pieces, said spots having markers correlated with said tally pieces for identifying the individual players and their respective objectives, a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending tracks of the same color extending from said prize space across said circumferential tracks to an outer zone surrounding the playing field, said radial tracks being marked ofi into playing spaces, and means within said outer zone defining a plurality of starting points interconnected with the outer circumferential track.

- LE ROY HOWARD. 

